Lacuna Bloome - Plastic

Brighton four piece Lacuna Bloome release 'Plastic' on Thursday 19th September, the lead single from their upcoming EP recorded at Audiobeach Studios (Producer Forbes Coleman).

It's easy to be swept along by the majesty of their playing. However, on 'Plastic', they have delivered a stunning indictment of the times. With Blake and peak Ashcroft in their hearts, poetic summation and defiance oozes from their souls. The punk insight of Billy Bragg emanates from the line “What you see is out of plain sight / Drifting everywhere” but, frontman Niall sings, it's with Johnny Marr's heart.

Musically, Ride's pop tinged 'Future Love' collides with the thunder of Stone Roses' 'This Is The One'. The sun kissed psyche guitars loop to sail you away to hazy climates in the early stages before, blood sweat and tears of the closing stages bring you crashing to shore.

Those closing moments, they're more than bombastic rock n roll. As Niall wrenches “yes its changing”, something more than music is happening. This is a gut wrenching clarion call echoing the desperation of Ian Curtis on 'Closer'.

Hope has been sparse of late. Maybe, just maybe Lacuna Bloome are the catalyst for the change they passionately decree. Winter is coming but, it would appear this four piece are drawing their Jon Snow battle lines, get behind them and charge into the night!

*Image courtesy of @shotbybutch

Average Sex: The Victoria, London

London’s Average Sex signed off their first UK tour at East London’s Victoria this past Friday night. Having warmed up for us at our 8th birthday just over 2 weeks ago, we were salivating at the thought of a tour hardened band returning home.

In lead guitarist Sam O’Donovan, they have a king hook maker. Whether it’s The Strokes, Beach Boys, Ramones, or The Charlatans, he can turn his hand to the lot. On ‘U Suck’, he taps into Television and adds the destruction of punk to back mercurial front woman Laetitia Bocquet. Much like Mozza and Marr, he is fuelling the fire of Bocquet for the most part, but, on ‘Dump’ and ‘Ugly Strangers’, his licks step out of the darkness to star.

It is impossible though, to watch Average Sex and not be in awe of Bocquet. Her ability to method act each songs’ narrative is joyous. Whether it’s the hysteria of ‘We’re Done’, the wry venom of ‘Erotomania’ or the raw emotion of ‘My Dead Friend’, she gives the audience something different, almost every verse.

Together, not forgetting their slick rhythm section (Louise Earwaker / Finnigan Kidd / Jamie Graeme), they are band who seem to just get it. It’s not enough to just have great songs, you have to mean it, and Average Sex become their songs on stage. This is integrity will lead them to bigger stages sooner rather than later.

*Image courtesy of The Gig Slut

Average Sex - Erotomania

London's Average Sex, begin their nationwide tour tonight in Liverpool. To celebrate,they've released their new single 'Erotomania' via Tim Burgess' O Genesis imprint.

Song writing partnership, Sam and Letitia, haven't missed a beat since last years 'To My Dead Friend'. Slightly fuzzy, slightly 60s girl group and most definitely kick ass, can anyone match them for alt-pop right now?

As with their previous singles, its so easy to get lost in their melodies. However, scratch the surface and lyrically, darker avenues open up. They have an innate ability to recreate traumatic and intimate tales with such clarity, it's as though you lived through it with them.

Despite the obvious hurt on display, they continually find ways of making the listener laugh. We defy you not to find the humour in the line “Oh Grace why wont you punch me in the face”.

After two sell out EPs, this tour is sure to be the start of big things for Average Sex.

-Image courtesy of Caffy St Luce

Tim Burgess and The Anytime Minutes: 100 Club

For Independent Venue Week, The Charlatans frontman embarked on a tour around the UK's iconic small venues. For his London date, he came to Oxford Street's 100 Club. As any Charlatan fan will attest, they've been on a roll since 2015's 'Modern Nature' album. So, to do anything live to top that was never on the cards, was it?

Backed by members of the brilliant Average Sex (signed to Tim's O Genesis label), something magical happened this past Wednesday. Especially when Laetitia, the singer from Average Sex entered the affray. Tim and Laetitia became the post-punk Marvin and Tammi and, as a result, created a party for the ages.

'Clutching Insignificance', usually, a bewitching take on the archetype Charlatans sound became a different beast. Vocally, Laetitia is a behemoth. Her fire and 60s soul enriched the song to spark dancing both on and off stage.

Anyone who didn't fall in love with their partner or a past love all over again on 'One Last Kiss' is dead inside. On record, it’s a crisp take on classic Phil Spector and Brian Wilson records and with Average Sex in tow, heightened the icons sound.

Then, just when your thinking this party has nothing left to give, they dropped a cover version of Culture Club's 'Time (Clock of the Heart). The happiness oozing from the stage had an almost desperation to it. It had to escape, it had to infect the lives of others. The bleakness of the society had to be washed away.

Charlatans guitarist Mark Collins popped in for a stripped-back punk version of 'North Country Boy' before the party went out with a bang on Burgess' 2003 classic 'Oh My Corazon'. After this gig, the roll the Charlatans are on is going to have to pick up the pace to surpass this.

At the time of writing this review, the news has announced the tragic death of legendary comedian Jeremy Hardy. I would like to dedicate the happiness of this gig and writing about this gig to Jeremy. He has given me so many great nights out and in on Radio 4. You'll be sorely missed.

Average Sex - Ice Cream

Supporting legends like The Charlatans in December is peppered with problems. The whiff of nostalgia loomed for the TT Christmas party. Nevertheless, we went home talking solely abut Average Sex (ahem).

Let’s check out their new EP ‘Ice Cream’:

Ugly Strangers

“We have no jobs and no money” so, what to do then? Make undeniable pop music? Done! Despite this song being about mental health issues and overdoing it, the melodies are so great, it inevitably brings great nights out to mind. The solo alone is enough to make you think of carefree youthfulness and being in love.

To twist a darkness to the light like this is remarkable. Superstars are born!

We’re Done

What a break up song, and more to the point, what a chorus!

“You act like I’m the crazy one / Since I slashed your tyres / And you won’t return my texts / Since I set your dog on fire”

Has obscene break up violence ever been so joyous and melodic? Images of packed arenas bouncing immediately come to the fore.

Hey Boy

Vivian Girls and Veronica Falls have walked the line of surf rock and The Ramones in recent years, but, never to this quality. Singer Laetitia Bocquet packs that knockout punch in her delivery and the solo is one you never want to end!

Ice Cream

If you thought their pop sensibilities couldn’t get any better, think again. The ‘oh oh oh’s’ are so infectious that they might be fatal.